Car Hire at Alicante Train Station (Estación de Renfe)
Car hire at Alicante train station (Estación de Renfe). Collect near the AVE/Cercanías hub in the city centre — compare suppliers with transparent pricing.
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Car hire near Alicante train station — collect in the city centre
Plenty of visitors reach Alicante not by plane but by rail. The AVE high-speed line from Madrid puts you on the Costa Blanca in a little over two hours, fast Euromed and long-distance services run up the coast from Valencia, and the local Cercanías line links the city with Elche, San Vicente and the airport corridor. They all arrive at the same place: the Estación de Alicante–Renfe on Avenida de Salamanca, a short walk from the Mercado Central and the old town. If you are stepping off an AVE from Madrid or Valencia and want a car waiting, picking up in the city centre rather than trekking out to the airport often makes the most sense.
This page is about exactly that decision — collecting a hire car at or near Alicante station instead of at the airport. We cover how to get from the platform to a downtown pickup, who city-centre collection suits, where to park near the station if you are returning the car, and how the two options compare on price. Alicantehirecar Alicante lists live availability from local and international suppliers across Alicante and the wider Costa Blanca, so you can weigh up station and airport pickup side by side before you book.
Station pickup vs airport pickup — which is cheaper?
There is no single right answer; it depends on how you arrive and where your trip goes next. The honest summary is that the airport usually has the widest choice of suppliers and the keenest headline rates, while a city-centre pickup near the station saves you a detour if you came in by train. Use this table to match the option to your journey.
| Question | City centre / near the station | Alicante–Elche Airport (ALC) |
|---|---|---|
| Best if you arrive… | By AVE or long-distance train, or you are already staying downtown. | By plane, or you want the largest pool of cars and suppliers. |
| Typical price | Often a little higher; fewer downtown depots competing. | Usually the keenest headline rates thanks to high volume. |
| Getting there | Walk or short taxi from the platform; no extra transfer. | Tram, bus or taxi out to ALC first if you are in the centre. |
| Driving out | City traffic and one-way streets before you reach the ring road. | Straight onto the A-70 / AP-7 — easy if you are heading along the coast. |
| Returning the car | Handy if your last night is in the centre; mind paid street parking. | Simple if you fly home; refuel near the terminal first. |
Prices shift with season and dates — the surest way to compare is to run both pickup points for your exact days in the search above.
From the platform to your car
Unlike the airport, where many suppliers have a desk inside arrivals, downtown depots are spread across the streets around the Estación de Alicante. A few simple steps get you from your seat on the AVE to behind the wheel without backtracking.
1. Off the train
Follow signs through the concourse to the main exit on Avenida de Salamanca. The taxi rank and bus stops are right outside.
2. Check your address
Your voucher gives the depot address, not just "Alicante". Some are a short walk from the station; others are a few minutes by taxi.
3. Mind the hours
Downtown offices often close at lunch and earlier than the airport. Book a pickup time that lands inside opening hours after your train arrives.
4. Collect & inspect
Bring your licence, voucher and a card in the main driver's name. Photograph the car and the fuel gauge before you drive off.
Who city-centre pickup suits
Collecting near the station makes most sense when the train, not the plane, is how you reached Alicante. If you have ridden the AVE down from Madrid or up the coast from Valencia, a downtown pickup means no transfer out to ALC and back — you simply walk or take a short taxi to the depot and set off.
It also suits anyone whose plans start in the centre: a couple of nights in the old town and at Postiguet beach before driving up to Benidorm or Calpe, or a base in Alicante with day trips into the Costa Blanca hills. If your itinerary instead runs straight along the coast from the moment you land, the airport's slip road onto the A-70 and AP-7 can be the simpler launch point.
Parking near the station
If you are returning the car to a downtown depot, plan the last leg. The streets around the station fall mostly under regulated zona azul (paid blue-zone) parking, where you buy a ticket from the kerbside machine and display it. Free on-street spaces near the centre are scarce, especially on market mornings.
For anything longer than a quick handover, an underground car park is easier than circling for a space — there are paid garages within a few minutes of the station. If your supplier wants the car back with a full tank, fill up on the way in, since downtown petrol stations are fewer than out by the ring road. Build in a little buffer so a missed turn in the one-way streets does not make you late.
Alicante train station car hire — FAQ
The questions rail travellers ask most often about collecting a hire car in the centre of Alicante.
Arriving by train? Compare your pickup options
Whether you step off the AVE in the centre of Alicante or fly into ALC, run your exact dates above to see live availability from local and international suppliers across the Costa Blanca. Weigh a city-centre pickup near the station against the airport, choose the insurance and fuel terms that suit you, and book in minutes — transparent pricing, free cancellation on most rates, and no hidden fees in Spain.
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